江

• Pinyin: jiāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 江 = 氵(water) + 工 (work/phonetic) — a large body of flowing water

Meaning

River (large). A major waterway, typically larger than a 河 (river/stream).

Traditionally refers to large rivers, especially the 长江 (Yangtze River, the longest river in China). In southern China, 江 is more commonly used for rivers, while 河 is preferred in the north — though both are widespread. Also appears in place names like 江苏 (Jiangsu province) and 浙江 (Zhejiang province), and in literary expressions like 江山 (rivers and mountains, meaning a country's territory).

Examples

1. 长江是中国最长的江。 The Yangtze is the longest river in China.
2. 我们沿着江边散步，风景很美。 We walked along the riverbank, and the scenery was beautiful.
3. 这条江的水流很急，游泳很危险。 The current in this river is very strong — swimming is dangerous.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, nature

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 长江有多长？(How long is the Yangtze River?)
• 江边的夜景非常漂亮。(The night view along the river is very beautiful.)

Don't Say

• 我家旁边有一条小江 (Don't use 江 for small streams — use 河 or 小河 for smaller waterways; 江 is for large rivers)

Origin & History

An ancient character with the water radical 氵and the phonetic component 工 (gōng). Originally specifically referred to the Yangtze River before becoming a general term for large rivers.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal